ALICANTE, Spain, July 7 – If you think Ian Walker has reason to celebrate after beating six other skippers to win the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15, then imagine how Patrick Babin feels right now – he defeated more than 200,000 rivals to win the official virtual game version of the nine-month marathon.

Courtesy Virtual Regatta / Volvo Ocean Race

Walker re-lives the battles that turned him into a champ

GOTHENBURG, Sweden, June 23 – Ian Walker, freshly crowned winning skipper of the Volvo Ocean Race, woke up this morning with the familiar feeling to all sailors in the nine-month offshore marathon: How on earth do I follow that?

- Team Alvimedica retain lead in race to Gothenburg - Lighter winds followed by new front could yet shuffle the pack

GOTHENBURG, Sweden, June 21 – The Volvo Ocean Race fleet were facing one last roll of the dice later tonight before nearly nine months of fluctuating offshore fortunes come to a fitting climax here tomorrow.

Triumphant entrance in The Hague for Turkish/American team

‘It’s only halftime,’ says cautious skipper Enright

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, June 19 – Team Alvimedica (Charlie Enright/USA) made a triumphant entry into The Hague at 0134 local time/2334 UTC this morning and put themselves in poll position to win Leg 9 of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Team Brunel leads out fleet in race to Gothenburg via The Hague

LORIENT, France, June 16, 2015 – On Tuesday, the Volvo Ocean Race fleet set off for Gothenburg, 960 nautical miles away from Lorient, via The Hague, in perfect sailing conditions today with Team Brunel (Bouwe Bekking/NED) leading the chase to reach the Dutch pit stop first.

- Enright’s crew dominate for Lorient victory - MAPFRE snatch second in the closing stages - Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing still clear at the top of standings

LORIENT, France, June 14 - Team Alvimedica claimed their second Volvo Ocean Race in-port race series victory in Lorient, France, on Sunday after leaving their rivals trailing following a delayed start due to lack of wind.

LORIENT, France, June 11 – Team SCA won the 647nm Leg 8 to France last night. The comfortable victory was the first leg win for a female crew in offshore sailing’s toughest challenge since Tracy Edwards’ Maiden clinched two stage wins in Class D of the 1989-90 race.

At least as satisfying for the first all-women’s crew to enter the race in 12 years will be the opportunity to silence critics. True, the Swedish entry has yet to claim a podium place until now, but the crew has clearly improved leg after leg and many observers felt that a breakthrough performance was just around the corner.

The win was certainly no fluke in an upwind leg that tested seamanship to the full with an often heinous sea state and strong winds virtually throughout.

They grabbed the 647-nautical mile leg from Lisbon on Monday and strengthened that grip on Tuesday after taking an offshore course while most of their rivals hugged the Spanish and French coast approaching the Bay of Biscay. It took them three days 13 hours 11 minutes and 11 seconds to grab their share of Race history.

"Thanks to everybody for all your support. It's not really sunk in yet," said a jubilant Davies. "It probably won't hit us until we hit the dock and we see there aren't any other boats there. It's a reward for all the hard work we have done. It's a great confidence booster. It's going to be huge for us. We've had a mountain to climb to get here."

- Dutch and Chinese battle to keep overall victory hopes alive - Team SCA and Team Vestas Wind sail on at head of fleet - Dawn finish forecast as Lorient gears up for thrilling finale

ALICANTE, Spain, June 10, 2015 - Dongfeng Race Team (Charles Caudrelier/FRA) and Team Brunel (Bouwe Bekking /NED) were fighting to keep their dreams of overall Volvo Ocean Race victory alive as Leg 8 shaped up for a thrilling finish at dawn in Lorient, France, on Thursday.

- All-women’s crew establish 5nm advantage early on Leg 8 - Team Alvimedica make blog plea on World Oceans Day

LISBON, Portugal, June 8 – Team SCA (Sam Davies/GBR) found themselves leading the fleet after a night of thunderstorms and fluctuations as the Volvo Ocean Race Leg 8 entered the first full day in the Atlantic on Monday.